Apparatus for feeding articles



Feb. 14, 192s. 1,658,837

w. v. DERBY APPARTUS FOR- FEEDING ARTICLES yq jul f Filed Jan.16, 1926`5 Sheefs-Sheet 1 W. V. DERBY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ARTICLES Feb. 14,'1928.` 1,658,837

Filed Jan.1e, 1926 5 sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 14, 1,928. l 1,658,837

W. V. DERBY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ARTICLES FiledfJamlB, 1926 5SheefS-Sheet 3 xNvENToR ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1928.

W. V. DERBY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ARTICLES Filed Janie. 1926 5sheets-sheet 4 IWII W @Wim Feb. 14, 192s. 1,658,837

W. V. DERBY APPARATUS RoR FERDING ARTICLES Filed Jan.l6, 1926 5Sheets-Sheet 5 @a EEZ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS PatentedFeb. 14, 1928.

* UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

WILLIAM V'. DERBY, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGN OR T0 THE CROWN CORKSEAL COMPANY 0F BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OFMARYLAND.

APPARATUS Fon rEEnrN ARTICLES.

lApplication led January 16, 1926. serial No. 81,827.

This vinvention relates to apparatus for feeding articles and moreparticularly to apparatus for feeding closures of the crown cork type tothe throats of cappingmachmes.

5 In capping ordinary bottles wlth crown corks, the customary size ofcrown 1s approximately 1 in diameter and varlous forms of apparatus havebeen devised for automatically feeding such crowns to the l throat ofthe capping machine. It is frequently desiredto cap large mouthed revceptacles with closures of the crown corkl type, for example, withcrowns 3 in diameter. It has been found, however, that l the known meansof crown feeding are not practicable with crowns of these larger sizesand heretofore these large crowns have been fed to the capping throat byhand.

It is an object of the present invention to `provide an apparatus foreffecting an automatic feed of large size crowns. Itis a further objectof the invention to provide an apparatus for effectively andeconomically feeding individual. articles, of various kinds, from astack.

With these general objects in view the invention consists in thecombinations, fea-l tures, details of construction and arrangements ofparts that will first be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and then more particularly pointed out. In the drawings- Figure1 is a view in side elevation of a capping machine having associatedtheref with a crown feeding mechanism constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Figure 2i is a view of the same in front elevation;

Figure 3Ais a top plan view with parts in section;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of part of the apparatus; v

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus showing adifferent position of the parts; A

Figure-6 is a view similar toFig. 4 show? ing a different position oftheparts; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing another position.

While the invention in general is applicable to feeding articles ofvarious kinds, it is particularly adapted to feeding large size closuresof the 'well known crown cork type and it is here illustratedI asembodied in a feed for such closures.

Referring to the drawings, 11 indicates the frame-work of anexemplifying cappin machine having a head casing 12 provlde witlbearings 13 in which slides a reciprocating" capping head including atubular plunger 14. On the lower end of this plunger 1s a throat carrier15 having a throat ring or capping die 16, a crown chamber 17 andes. v

of this pin 19a is a supplementary ypresser foot spring 21, the otherend of which bears against a threaded lug 19b adjustably mounted in the'end of) a tubular sleeve 19 carried by housing 14a. It will be seenthat the presser foot is normally urged downwardly with respect to thehead by the two springs 20, 21. The normal downward positlon of pin 19aLis limited by the engagement of its head with housing 14", and thenormal downward position of the main presser foot is limited by theengagement of a collar 19d with a shouldered plate 19 on the cappinghead. i

' While the capping plunger may be reciprocated in various ways, in thetype-of machine here illustrated, an actuating mechanism tends to lowerthe plunger with a given stroke but the effective stroke varies tocompensate for variations in bottled heights. To this end, as here shownas an example, housed withinthe tubular plunger 14 are two compensatingsprings 22, 23. The flower spring bears at its lower end against acollar 22.l seated on the housing 14, and at its upper vend against aslidable abutment block 24. The upper compensating spring 23 bears atits lower" end against a collar 23i seated on an internal shoulder 23bformed on the lunger 14. At its upper end this sprin 23 ears against acollar 23c carried by a olt 23d, the other end of which is threaded intoblock 24.l The block 24 carries a pin 25 eX- I tending through a slot 26in the plunger 14 I. ment of the head with the receptacle to be cap-ped,is exceeded, the head yields against springs 22 and 23 and ceases itsdownward movement, block 24 with its bolt 231 continu- 'ing the strokealone. During this .final part of the stroke of the block 24 springs 22and 23 are compressed and the pin 25 rides down its slot 26. When theb'lock 24 reverses to move upwardly, in case compensation as abovedescribed has taken place, the block and bolt first move up alone, thesprings reexpanding to normal condition, and thereafter the entire headmoves up with the block as a unit.

'While the block 24 may be reciprocated in any suitable manner, this maybe accomplished conveniently by mechanism such as disclosed in PatentNo. 1,463,257, dated July 31, 1923, to William V. Derby. It will beapparent that `the block 24 and pin 25 correspond to the abutment block32 and pin 3'1 of the machine described in the patent mentioned.

It will be seen, from the above description, that whileA the downward orcapping stroke of the head varies in accordance with the height of thebottle presented, the head always returns to a given starting position.It will be understood, moreover, that the parts are arranged for a givenstandard size of receptacle and the compensation referred to is to takecare of only slight manufacturing variations'in the receptaclespresented.

By the downward or capping stroke of the head the closure is forced intosealing contact with the receptacle and the skirt of the closure iscrimped around the bottle mouth in the manner well known to'thoseskilled in the art.

In the present embodiment a gravity feed chute moves with the head. Tothis end, registering with the open port 27 of the crown chamber is theend of a curved chute 28. The chute has a lug 29 pinned to a y clampcollar 30 embracing the throat carrier,

a bolt 31 serving to support both the clamp collar and throat carrierupon the plunger 1 4. Near the upper end of the vertical part of thechute is an enlargement or block 32 forming a carrier and having aertured lugs`33 through which passes a stationary guide rod 34 carriedby the head casing. 'I his rod serves as a guide and support for theupper end of the chute in its reciprocating movement, lugs 33 sliding onthe rod. The chute is closed in by a cover fplate 35 which has anextension 36 above the upper or receiving mouthof the chute, for apurpose hereinafter referred to.

For convenience, the head, chute. and carrier block, which movetogether, are referred to as the reciprocating unit.

There is provided means for withdrawing successive articles from a stackand depositing them one by one in the chute, and in structures embodyingthe invention to the best advantage, the articles will be stackedvertically in a stationary magazine, the lowermost artic'le beingwithdrawn by a reciprocating suction cup. While the magazine may vary inconstruction it may conveniently include a support for the stackautomatically displaceable by the pull of the suction cup on thelowermost article. Althou h capable of various constructions, in thatere shown as an example, the magazine holds a vertical sta-ck of crowns41 stacked skirt up. The magazine includes a. ring-like base 42 having alug 43 secured to a. portion of the head casing 12 by an extension ofguide rod 34 and a nut 44. The inner diameter of the annular base 42 isslightly larger than the diameter of the articles to be fed and theupper edge is flared or beveled oil, as at 45, to insure free movementof the crowns. Set in the base 42 are a plurality of vertical rods 46equally spaced about the bore of the base and inscrihing a circle ofsubstantially the same diameter as that of the bore. That portion ofeach rod,45'thatl sets into the base is of reduced diameter to offset itfrom the wall of the bore and the corresponding shoulders are beveledolf, as at 47, where they would otherwise overlap bevels 45. The rods 46are further supported by a brace 48 from the head casing 12.

Threaded into the Wall of the magazine base 42 are a number of equallyspaced, radially disposed, tubular holders 51, the inner ends of whichare substantially flush with the inner wall of base 42. Each end of eachholder 51 is turned in slightly to constrict the end openings. Movablein the inner end of each holder 51 is hardened ball 52 normallyprojecting into the bore of the base 42 but retained in the holder bythe constriction of the inner end. The balls 52 are yieldably held innormal position by springs 53 housed in holders 51, their outer endsbearing against the abutments formed by the constricted outer ends ofthe holders. The outer ends of tubular holders 51 are provided withscrew driver Slots 54 (Fig. 2), whereby the holders may be adjusted 1nthe base to adjust the position of balls 52. The holders are secured inadjusted position by lock nuts 55. Nor-l v vary in construction, as hereshown as an example, secured in a recess in the top of carrier block 32by a split washer 60 is the base 61 of a rubber suction cup 62 having arelatively slender, flexible stem 63. The cup element is provided with acentral bore 64 communicating with a vertical `conduit 65 in carrierblock 32, later-referred to. It will be apparent that the suction cup,which is centrally located with respect to the magazine, is reciprocatedto and from the magazine by the movement of carrier block 32, which ispart of the reciprocating unit. In this connection, it is noted that theparts are so arranged that the up stroke of the cup is sufficient tolift the stack of closures slightly from their supports so that contactvis insured at all points of the circumference of the rim of the cup.Further, the cup can adapt itselfto any slight canted position which thelowermost closure may assume, by a slight flexing of the stem 63.

While the suction cup may derive its vacuum in various ways, instructures embodying the invention according to the best advantage, thevacuum will be derived by means of a suction pump operated by themovement of the reciprocating unit. In this connection it is noted thatthe word vacuum is used in the present specification and claims in itsmore or less commonly adopted sense, it being understood that itdescribes a partial vacuum or minus pressure sufficient for the purposein view. Moreover, the word atmosphere is used in a comprehensive senseto mean a relative plus pressure.

While the pump means is capable lof varlous constructions, in that hereillustrated as an example, moving with the reciprocating unit is a pumpcylinder 67, secured to a cylinder head 66 which is bolted to theunderside of the carrier block 32. In the `lower part of the blockandthe cylinder hea-d is a passage or conduit 68. This conduit is'inalinement with conduit 65 and communicates therewith through a valvechamber later described.

Working in the pump cylinder is a pump piston. 69 having a leather cup70 held in place by a nut 71 screwed onto the tubular stem 72 of thepiston. Mean's is provided Afor anchoring the piston so as to effect asuction action on the up stroke of the c linder and an exhausting actionon the own "next,y up stroke.

In other words, the distance separating the g stroke of the cylinder. Asabove described, the stroke of the reciprocating unit varies inaccordance with the height of the receptacle presented. In constructionsembodying the invention in its entirety, the piston is so anchored that.uniform suction and exhaust actions are obtained regardlessof the lengthof the down stroke of .the unit. This may be accomplished, for example,by means of a compensating anchoring connection between the piston and astationary part of the apparatus. Although capable of variousconstructions, in that here shown as an example, threaded into thetubular piston stem 72 is a rod 73 which passes freely through a hole ina stationary bracket 74; secured to the head casing 12 by an extensionof guide rod 34: and a nut 75. Below the bracket 1t the rod 73 has astop nut 76 and between the bracket and an upper nut 77 on the rod is aspring 78. This spring tends to move the piston upwardly, such movementbeing-limited by the engagement of stop nut 76 with the underside ofbracket 74.

Assuming the parts to be in the position of Fig. 4, with thereciprocating unit at the end of its down stroke, as the cylinder movesupwardly the force of spring 78 causes the piston to follow until stopnut 7G engages mum down stroke, the cylinder moves relatively to thepiston until the cylinder head engages the piston. Thereafter, furthermovement of the cvlinder forces the piston down with it, ro'd 73 slidingin its bracket against spring 78. Should an over size receptacle presentitself, thus causing a reduction in the down stroke of the reciprocatingunit, the piston will be displaced downwardly by the cylinder by acorrespondingly` less amount. It follows that stop nut 76 will bedisplaced from bracket 74 a shorter distance and will have less distanceto travel, on the up stroke, before anchoring the piston. Should thecompensation required by an over size receptacle equal the normalseparation between stop nut 76 and bracket 74, the cylinder ends itsdown stroke at substantially the time it engages the piston and therewill be substantially no piston movement either on this down stroke oron th cylinder head and piston when the cylinder is at the end of its upstroke (Fig.

llo

5) is less the maximum strokeof the cylinder, i. e. for the shortestreceptacle, by the amount of separation possible between the stop nut 76and the bracket 74. Consequently, regardless of the length ofthe downstroke of the cylinder, the cylinder head and piston will come togetherand so exhaust the cylinder of any contained air. Itfollows that thesuccessive suction strokes are alike rc ardless ot the starting positionof the cylin er.

There is provided an exhaust or relief valve for the suction pump.Although capable of various constructions, in. that here illustrated asan example, in the hollow piston ste-m 72 is a loaded check valve in theform of a ball 125 normally seating against a valve seat 126 formed by ashoulder on the inner wall oi the stem 72. This ball is normally heldagainst its seat by a spring 127, the other end of which bears againstthe end of rod 73. Beyond nut 71 the hollow stem 72 has a cross bore128by which air passing the ball valve 125 can escape. When the suctionpump makes its exhaust stroke, i. e. upon the down stroke of thecylinder, ball valve 125 will be displaced against its spring by anyentrapped air, and this air escapes past the open valve and cut viacross bore 128. This exhaust valve is provided primarily in view of thefact that the pump will draw in air in case the machine is operatedwithout any articles in the stack. As a mat.

ter of fact, however, there is usually small amount of air taken in oneach cycle, which air is exhausted through the valve on the exhauststroke.

The invention in its entirety includes valve means for connecting thesuction cup with a source of vacuum. e. the pump described, on thewithdrawing stroke of the cup and with atmosphere. to relieve thevacuum, after the cup has withdrawn an article, and means operated intimed relation with the cup movement for operating such valve means. Inconstructions of the type above described. the valve may set upcommunication between conduits 65 and 68 to connect the cup with thepump cylinder and,

at the proper time, cutting olf such communication, set up communicationbetween conduit 65 and atmosphere to relieve the vacuum. The valve mayconveniently be operated by the movement of the reciprocating um Y Whilethe valve means may vary, in the construction here shown as an example,the carrier block 32 has a horizontal bore lined with a bushing 80 whichencloses a valve chamber crossing the line of conduits 65, 68. Thebushing has a slot 81 forming, in effect, a continuation of conduit 65and a slot 82 forming, in effect, a continuation of conduit 68. Slidingin bushing 80 with a close tit is a valve member in the *form of acylindri- Leases? cal block 83 having a. circumferential groove 84adapted to al'ord communication between slots 81, 82 when the valve isin one position, i. e. the position of Fig. 5. This may, forconvenience, be termed the suction osition of the valve. The valve alsohas a ongitudinal or axial groove 85 adapted to span and affordcommunication between the slot 81 and a relief slot 86 in the bushing 80and which registers with a conduit 87 in block 32, leading toatmosphere, when 2the valve is in another position, i. e. the positionof Figs. 6 and 7. This may, for convenience, be termed the reliefposition of the valve. In this relief position the cup is cut off fromthe cylinder, which is closed.

lVhile the valve may be operated in vari-v ous ways, in the embodimenthere shown as an example, the cylindrical valve block 83 has a.flattened end which carries a camridingpin 88. This pin, at itscam-engaging portion is cylindrical. At its inner end it is flattened tohave a bearing on the sides of a longitudinal slot 89 formed in bushing80 and block 82. The valve is-moved into suction position, i. e. fromthe position of F ig. 4 to the position of Fig. 5, by a cam element 91having a slanting cam edge 92 for engaging pin 88 as the reciprocatingunit approaches the top of its up stroke. This cam 91 is mounted toyield for a purpose later described. To this end, as here shown as anexample, the cam is pivoted by a pin 93 to a bracket plate 94 secured tothe head casing 12. The cam is held in a normal position (Fig. 1) by a.spring 95 connected between brace 48 and a pin 96 on the cam. Pin 96extends through a hole 97 in the bracket plate 94 and normal position ofthecam. under the forceof sprin 95, is fixed by the engagement of pin 96with the upper edge' of hole 97. The hole is large enough to permitmovement of pin 96 as the cam rocks on its pivot. For the present, theyieldablc-mounting of cam 91 ma be disregarded',- as under normalconditions its spring causes it to operate the valve as if it wererigidly mounted.

The valve is 'moved in the opposite direction, i. e. to relief position(Fig. 4) by a cani element 101 rigidly fixed to bracket plate 94 andhaving a slanting cam edge 102 which engages pin 88 on the valve as thereciprocating unit moves downwardly. This cam also has a. vertical camedge 103 extending downwardly from slanting cam edge 102 for engagingpin 88 and retaining the valve in relief position during the latter andmajor part of the down stroke and the first andmajor part of the upstroke ot' the reciprocating unit.

The slanting cam edge 92 of cam element- 91 is so arranged asto engagepin 88 ot the valve element 83 atv approximately the time at which therim of the vacuum cup engages the lowermost closure of the stack an tocause the valve to reach suction position (Fig. 5) at approximately thetime the reciprocating unit reaches the top of its up stroke. In thisposition of the valve, the passage to atmosphere is cut off andcommunication is established between the pump cylinder and the cup, thetop of which is now closed by virtue of the fact that the rim of the cupengages the face of the lowermost closure. Consequently, a vacuum is setup in the cup and when the reciprocating unit begins its down stroke thecup eX- erts a suction action on the lowcrmost closure and pulls thesame past the retaining balls 52, which are displaced against theirsprings to allow the closure to pass. As soon as this closure haspassed, springs 53 return the balls 52 toinital position to receive thenext low-ermost closure of the stack.

The slanting cam edge 102 of cam 101 is so arranged as to engage pin 88and reverse the valve only after the reciprocating unit has moved thesuction cup far enough to withdraw a closure from the stack. As pin 88rides down this cam edge 102, the valve is reversed from the suctionposition of Fig. 5 to the relief position of Figs. 1 and 6. In thisrelief position, communication between the cup and the pump cylinderl.is cut oif, the cylinder is closed, and the cup is placed incommunication with atmosphere, thus relieving the vacuum in the cup.

This releases the hold of the cup on'the withdrawn closure which nowrests freely on the cup and is held Ithereon merely by its own weight.

The invention in, its entirety includes means operated in timed relationwith the cup movement and the valve movement for transferring thewithdrawn and suction-released crown from the support of the cup into aposition to be received by the chute.

i This may be accomplished conveniently by a tipper for tipping thecrown so that it may drop into the chute by gravity.

Although capable of various constructions, in that here illustrated asan example, pivoted between lugs 111 on the carrier block 32 is askeleton tipper 112. This tipper, as-

will be apparent from Figs. 5-7, has a central' opening through whichthe stem of the cup passes and which is or'` a diameter to permit thetipper to move up past the cup as shown in Fig. 6. When the tipper 112is swung upwardly on its pivot, its rim,l

at a point opposite the pivot, is raised into Contact with that part ofthe closure which is diametrically opposite the mouth of the chute. Thetipper picks up the freely supported closure and tilts it toward avertical position so that it can drop edgewise, by gravity, into thereceiving mouth of the chute.

There is provided guide means for cooperating with the tipper intransferring the crown from the cup to the chutef Although capable ofvarious constructions, in that here shown as an example, the extension36 of the chute cover, above referred to, acts as a guide. As the crownis tipped toward the vertical sufficiently to slide off the suction cup,its skirt engages the guiding extension 36 and it is thereby guided intoa vertical position for reception by the chute mouth.

While the tipper 112 ma be operated by various means, as here s own asan example, the pivot pin 113, on which the tipper is mounted, has anextension to which is pinned rocker arm 114. Pivoted to the tree end ofthis arm is a link 115 having at its other end an open slot 116 whichembraces a stationary shouldered screw 117. This screw may convenientlybe one of the securing devices for the bracket plate 94. In order tohold the tipper 112 normally in a horizontal position there is provideda spring 118 which is connected between the screw 117 and the pivotbetween link 115 and arm 114. When the reciprocating unit is at the topof its stroke the end of slot 116 is displaced away Jfrom screw 117(Fig. 1). But as the unit moves down, link 115 is also moved down untilthe end of the slot engages screw 117. Upon further downward movement ofthe reciprocating unit this engagement of the link with the stationaryscrew causes link 115 to swing arm 114 on its pivot, thus causing thetip er to be swung upwardly as above describe As the reciprocating unitmoves upwardly again, the tipper is returned to normal horizontalnposit-ion, by spring 118, enough prior to the end of the up stroke toprevent any interlerence between the `tipper and the magazine ase.

As above described, under normal conditions each cycle of thereciprocating unit causes the withdrawal of a crown and its delivery tothe chute. It sometimes happens that the machine will run temporarilywithout any receptacles being capped. This results in crowns pilin up inthe chute. Means is provided for interrupting the normal cycle of thewithdrawing means in the event `of a predetermined accumulation ofcrowns in the chute. This may be accomplished, :for example, bypreventing movement of the valve element 83 into its normal suctionposition, so that no vacuum is set up in the cup. Although capable ofvarious constructions, in that here shown as an example, there isprovided a detector connected with the valve and arranged to extend intoand across the chute passage when the valve is in suction position. Asshown this detector is an integral extension 183 o the valve element-83. 'In other Words, the cylindrical block 83 is made long enough sothat when the valve is in suction position,

the end of the block extends across the chute passage, as appears inFig. 5. This detector is withdrawn from the chute, lso that the receivedcrown may pass, when the valve is moved to relief position (Fig. 4).

As long as the crowns deposited in the chute flow through the same andare removed by being applied to receptacles, or otherwise, the valveoperates in the normal manner above described. But should crownsaccumulate in the chute up to a point opposite the valve block, thedetector extension 183 cannot fully enter the. chute -pasf sage becauseit is blocked olf by a crown, as appears in Fig. 7. Consequently, as thereciprocating unit moves up and cam edge 92 engages pin 85 on the valve,the valve can be moved only far enough for the detector to strike theinterfering crown, and cannot be moved far enough to take suctionposition. Thereafter, cam 91 yields on its pivot against its spring,this being the purpose of the yieldable mounting hereinbeforedescribed.AThe throw of the valve from relief position to suction position is sorelated to the thickness of the articles being fed, e. g. crowns.l thatthe interposition of an article in the path of detector 183 prevents thevalve from taking suction position. As a result, the cup is not placedin communication with the vacuum source, e. g. the pump cylinder, and asno vacuum is set up in the cup, the cup cannot withdraw a -crown butmakes an idle stroke. The cup will continue to make idle strokes as longas the column of accumulated crowns in the chute is high enough/ toblock oli' the detector. When the accumulation is relieved and thecolumn drops below the point opposite the detector, ,the detector can,on the next up stroke, fully enter the chute passage again.-vConsequently, the valve can again take suction position and the suctionmeans again functions normally to withdraw a crown on each cycle.

While the operation of the apparatus will be clear from the abovedescription, to review the same: The suction cup is reciprocated towardand from the stack of crowns 41 by its movement with the reciprocatingunit comprising carrier 32, chute 28 and capping head 22, the cappinghead being rcciprocated by a force applied to block 24. Figure 4illustrates the parts at the end of the down stroke of the reciprocatingunit. The valve is in relief position and the cylinder has beenexhausted by the engagement of the cylinder head and piston. The tipper112 is still in tipping position. As the reciprocating unit movesupwardly the piston follows the cylinder, due to spring 78, until stopnut 76 engages bracket 74, whereupon the piston is anchored and thecylinder moves upwardly alone, thereby ef- A fecting a suction stroke ofthe pump which sets up a vacuum therein. During this movement the valveis held in its relief position, cutting oil the cylinder from the cup,by the vertical edge 103 of cam 101. As soon as the reciprocating unithas advanced far enough to displace the end of slot 116 away from nut117, the tipper 112 returns to normal horizontal position under theaction of its spring 118. By the time the suction cup has engaged thelowermost closure and lifted the stack slightly from its supports, camedge 92 has engaged pin 88 and moved valve 83 from the relief positionof Fig; 4 into the suction position of Fig. 5. In this position the cupis cut o-fffrom atmosphere and is in communication with the pumpcylinder so that a vacuum is set up in the cup, the top of which is nowclosed by the engaged crown.

The reciprocating unit now starts its downward` or withdrawing strokeand the suction action of the cup withdraws the lowermost crown from thestack, the supporting balls being displaced against their springs lopass this crown and returning to normal position to receive the nextlowermost crown of the stack. As the unit continues downwardly, valvepin 88 is engaged by cam edge 102 of cam 101 and the valve is returnedto relief position (Fig. 4), in which position it is retained during theremainder of the down stroke by cam edge 103. By this movement of thevalve the pump cylinder isagain cut ofi' and the suction cup is placedin communication with atmosphere. This relieves the vacuum in the cup sothat the withdrawn crown now rests freely on the cup by its own weight.

As the unit continues downwardly the end 0f slot 116 in link 115 strikesnut 117, whereby the link actuates rocker arm 114 to swing the tipper onits pivot. Figure 6 illustrates the partly displaced tipper just at thepoint of engaging the freely supported crown. This stroke of the tipperdislod es the crown from the cup and tips it toward a vertical position.As the crown slides olf the cup its skirt engages extension 36 of thechute cover whichguides the crown into the mouth of the chute. The crownthus received by the chute eventually passes down the same and entersport 27 in the head to take up its position for capping on crownplatform 18. l

`Meanwhile, during this withdrawing stroke of the reciprocating unit,the pump cylinder moves downwardly with its head vapproaching the pistonand any contained airis forced out past relief valve 125. At or near theend of this stroke the cylinder `head engages the piston and forcesthepiston downward slightly, rod 73 sliding in bracket 74 against itsspring. The amount of this downward displacement of the piston depends,as above described, on the length of the down stroke of thereciprocating unit.

This completes the cycle and the parts are now again inthe position ofFig. 4, except as to possible variation in the length of the stroke-ofthe unit.

In the normal operation above described the throw of the valve 83 by camedge 92 in placing the valve in suction position-is such as to cause thedetector extension 183 to enter and extend across the passage of thechute (Fig. 5). Should thc crowns delivered to the chute accumulate to apoint opposite the valve 83, the normal operation is interrupted becauseof the fact that the valve cannot take suction position. In other words,on the up- -suction position7 the cam 91 yielding against its spring tocompensate for this interrupted stroke. As a result, during this cyclethe cup is not placed in communication with the pump cylinder so that nosuction action is applied to the crown and the cup makes its strokeidly. Such idl cycles continue until the accumulation is relievedsutliciently for the column! of crowns in the chute to drop below apoint where a crown can interfere with the movement of valve block 83.Thereafter the parts operate normally again until `crowns againaccumulate to the predetermined point.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of horizontally disposed articles and includ ing adisplaceable support, suction means for withdrawing the lowermostarticle in said stack and including a horizontally disposedarticle-engagfng cup, a substantially vertical feedchute, and meansincluding av guide for transferring the withdrawn article from the cupinto a position to drop into said chute.

2. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of horizontally disposed articles and including adisplaceable support, suction means for withdrawing the lowermostarticle in said stack and including a horizontally disposed suction cup,a substantially vertical feed chute, and a tipper for tipping thewithdrawn article from its position on the cup into a position to dropinto said chute.

3. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of horizontally disposed articles and including adisplaceable support, suction means for withdrawingl the lowermostarticle in said stack and including a horizontally disposedvarticle-engaging cup, a substantially verticalfeed chute comprising acover plate, said plate having an extension beyond the receivmg mouth ofsaid chute, and a tipperifor tipping the withdrawn article toward thechute mouth, whereby it may drop thereinto by gravity, said extensionserving as a guide for directing'the article into the chute mouth.

4. In an apparatus forl feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack ot' horizontally arranged articles, a suction cup, means forreciprocating the suction cup toward and away from the stack, wherebythe rim of the cup makes contact with the lowermost article in the stackon the advance stroke of the cup, a substantially vertical feed chute,valve means for connecting the cup with a source of vacuum on thewithdrawing stroke of the cup and with atmosphere, to relieve thevacuum, after the cup has withdrawn an article, a. tipper for tippingthe withdrawn article, after relief of the vacuum, from its position onthe cup into a position to be received by said chute, and

means operating in timed relation with the cup movement for operatingsaid valve.

5. In an apparatus for feeding articles,

and in combination, amagazine for a stack lof articles, a suction cup, areciprocating carrier on which said cup is mounted, means for moving thecarrier toward and away from the holder, whereby contact is made betweenthe rim of the cup and the lowermost article ,in the stack upon theadvance stroke of the carrier. a suction pump including a cylinder,mounted on the carrier, and a piston, and valve means for placing thecup in communication with the cylinder after the cup rim has madeengagement with the lowermost article in the stack and for placing thecup in communication with atmosphere after the cup has withdrawn sucharticle `from the stack.

6. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor'1 a stack ot articles, a suction cup, a reciprocating carrier onwhich said cup is mounted, means for moving the carrier toward and awayfrom the holder, whereby contact isv made between the i'im of the cupand the lowermost article in the stack upon the advance stroke of thecarrier, a suction pump including a cylinder, mounted on thc carrier,and a piston, a conduit leading from the cup to said cylinder, a conduitleading from the cup to atmosphere, valve means associated with saidconduits .and arranged to connect the cup with the iis . engaged thelowermost article of the stack and into the other of said positionsafter the cup has withdrawn such article, transfer means fortransferring the withdrawn article from the cup, and means for operatingsaid transfer means in timed relation with said valve operating means,whereby the transfer means is operated after the cup is connected withatmosphere.

8. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of articles, a suction cup, means for advancing the cup .asufficient distance toward the magazine to cause the cup to engage thelowlermost article ofthe stack and raise the stack slightly from itssupport and for withdrawing the cup away from the magazine, valve `meansfor connecting the cup with a source of vacuum after the rim of the cuphas made engagement with the lowermost article of the stack and forconnecting it with atmosphere, to relieve such vacuum, after the cup haswithdrawn such article, and transferring means for transferring thewithdrawn article from the cup after relief of the vacuum.

9. In an apparatus for feeding articles, .and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of articles, a suction cup, a reciprocating carrier on whichsaid cup is mounted, means for moving the carrier toward and away fromthe magazine, whereby contact is made between the rim of the cup and thelowermost article in the stack upon the advance stroke of the carrier, asuction pump including a cylinder mounted on the carrier, and a piston,and means including a relatively stationary part of the apparatus foranchoring the piston.

10. In an apparatus for feeding artic-les, and in combination, amagazine for a stack of articles, a suction cup, a reciprocating carrieron which said cup is mounted, means for moving the carrier toward andaway from the magazine, whereby contact is made between the rim of thecup and the low-ermost article in the stack upon the advance stroke ofthe carrier, a suction pump including a. cylinder mounted on thecarrier, and a piston, and a compensating anchorage con'-l nectionbetween the piston and a stationary part of the apparatus. y

' 11. In an apparatus for feeding articles,

and in combination, a magazine for a stack of articles, a suction cup, areciprocating carrier on which said cup is mounted, means for moving thecarrier toward and away from the magazine, whereby contact is madebetween the rim of the cup and the lowermost article in the stack uponthe advance stroke of the carrier, a suction pump including a vcylindermounted on the carrier, and a piston, valve means for controllingcommunication between the cylinder' and cup, means for anchoring thepiston against movement toward the magazine'beyond a predeterminedpoint, the piston being movable in the opposite direction, on thewithdrawing strokeof the cylinder, by thc engagement of the cylinderhead with the piston,4 and means normally tending to hold the piston inits an- Chor-position.

l2. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of articles, a suction cup, a reciprocating carrier on whichsaid cup is mounted, means for reciprocating the carrier with respect tothe magazine, a suction pump including a cylinder, mounted on thecarrier, and a piston, means for controlling communication between thecylinder and the cup, a stationary bracket, a piston rod slidable insaid bracket, a stop element on the piston rod beyond the bracket forlimiting the movement of the piston` toward the magazine, and a springtending to cause the piston to move to the limit permitted by said stopelement.

13. In a capping machine, and in combination, a stationary head casing,a capping head reciprocable with respect thereto, a throat carrier onsaid head having a crown chamber provided with a crown entrance port, afeed chute communicating with said port and secured to the head to movetherewith, a stationary magazine for a stack of crowns, suction meansincluding a suction cup and operated by the movement of said head, forwithdrawing the successively lowermost crowns of the stack from themagazine, and means operated by the movement of said head fortransferring the wlthdrawn crown into a position to drop into saidchute.

lll. In a capping machine, and in combination, a stationary head casing,a capping head reciprocating with respect thereto, a throat carrier onsaid head having a crown chamber provided with a crown entrance port, a.feed chute communicating with said port and secured to the head to movetherewith, a stationary magazine for a stack of crowns, a carrier movingwith said chute, al

suction cup mounted on the carrier for withdrawing the successivelylowermost crowns of the stack, a suction pump, including a cylinder andpiston, operated by the movement of said head, valve meansoperated bythe movement of said head for connecting the cup with said cylinder upon'the withdrawing stroke of the cup .and with atmosphere, to relieve thevacuum, after the withdrawal 'of a crown, and a tipper operated by themovement of said head for tipping the withdrawn crown into the chute.

15. In a capping machine, and in combination a stationary head casing, acapping head reciprocable with respect thereto, a

throat carrier on said head having a crown chamber provided with a crownentrance port, a feed chute communicating with said port and securedtothe head to move therewith, a stationary magazine for holding avertical stack of horizontally arranged crowns,the chute having avertical' portion for receiving crowns singly and in edgewise position,and means for withdrawing the successively .lowermost crowns from thestack and moving them int-o a position to be received by said chute.

16. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of articles, a reciprocating carrier, a suction cup mounted'on said carrier, means for moving the carrier, a suction pump includlnga cylinder secured to the carrier, and a piston, the carrier having atransverse bore forming a valve chamber, there being alining conduitsconnecting said chamber with the cylinder and cup respectively, thecarrier having a relief conduit connecting said chamber with atmosphere,a cylindrical valve element slidable endwise in said valve chamber andhaving a circumferential groove for connecting said alining conduitswhen thevalve is in one position and having an axial groove forconnecting the cup with atmosphere through one of said conduits and saidrelief conduit when the valve is in another position, and means formoving said valve into one of said positions or the other.

17. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of articles, a suction cup for withdrawing the lowermostarticle from the stack, a reciprocating carrier on which said cup ismounted, a valve chamber in said carrier having communication with thecup, with atmosphere and with a conduitadapted to communicate with asource of vacuum, a valve movable in said valve chamber for controllingcommunication between the cup and said conduit and the cup andatmosphere, and means dependent on the position of said carrier foroperating said valve.

18. In' an apparatus for feeding articles,-

and in combination, a magazine for a stack of articles, a suction cupfor withdrawing the lowermost article from the stack, a. reciprocatingcarrier on which said cup is mounted, a valve chamber in said carrierhaving communication with the cup, with atmosphere and with a conduitadapted to communicate with a source of vacuum, a valve movable in saidvalve chamber for controlling communication.between the cup and saidconduit and the cup and atmosphere, a cam riding element on said valve,and cam means mounted on a stationary part of the apparatus for engagingsaid element to operate the valve.

19. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination. a magazinefor a stack of articles, a suction cup for withdrawing the lowermostarticle from the stack, a re ciprocating carrier on which said cup ismounted, al valve chamber' in said carrier having communication with thecup, with atmosphere and with alconduit adapted to communicate with asource of vacuum, a valve movable in said valve chamber for controllingc ommunication between the cup and said conduit and the cup andatmosphere, a cam riding element on said valve, a normally stationarycam for engaging said element on the latter part of the up stroke of thecarrier to cause the valve to move into a position to set upcommunication between th-c cup and said conduit, and anormallystationary cam for engaging said element on the withdrawing stroke ofthe carrier to cause the valve to move into a position to set upcommunication between the cup and atmosphere and for holding the valvein such position until the carrier has completed its withdrawing strokeand approached the end of its-advance stroke.

20. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a.magazine for a stack of articles, a suction cup for withdrawing thelowermost article from the stack, a reciprocating carrier on whichA saidcup is `mounted, means for moving said carrier with valve chamber insaid carrier having com-k munication with the cup, with atmosphere andwith a conduit adapted to communicate with a. source of vacuum, a valvemovable in said valve chamber for controlling communication between thecup and said conduit and the cup and atmosphere, a cam riding element onsaid valve, a normally stationary cam for engaging said element on thelatter part of the up stroke of the carrier to cause the valve to moveinto a position to set up communication between the cup and saidconduit, and a `normally stationary cam for engaging said element on thewithdrawing stroke of the carrier to cansev the valve to move into aposltion to set up communication between the cup and atmosphere and forholding the valve 1n such position until the carrier has completed itswithdrawing strokeand approached the end of its advance stroke'the irstnamed cam being'arranged to eiect such position of the valveatsubstantially the time the carrier attains the top of its advancingstroke.

21. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in "combination, amagazine for a stack of articles, a feed chute, a suction cup, areciprocating carrier on which said cup is mounted, means for setting upcommunication between the cup and a source of vacuum on the withdrawingstroke of the carrier and between the cu and atmosphere after the cuphas withdprawn an article,l a tipper pivoted on said carrier for tippinga withdrawn article into a position to be received by said chute, andmeans dependent on the position of the carrier for operating saidtipper.

22. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in" combination, amagazine for a stack of articles, a feed chute, a suction cup, areciprocating carrier on which said cup is mounted, means for setting upcommunication between the cupy and a source of vacuum on thevwithdrawing stroke of the carrier and betweenthe cup and atmosphereafter the cup has withdrawn an article, a tipper for tipping a withdrawnarticle into a position to be received by said chute, a pivot pincarried by the carrier and on which said tipper is mounted, a rocker armmounted on the pivot pin, a link pivoted to the free end of said rockerarm, a pin and slot connection between the other end of said link and astationary part of the apparatus, whereby engagement of such pin withthe end of such slot causes operation of the tipper after a givenwithdrawing movement of the carrier, and a springl for returning thetipper to normal position.

23. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of articles, a reciprocating carrier, a suction cup mountedon said carrier and having a slender flexible stem, and means forconnecting said cup with a source of vacuum upon the withdrawing strokeof the carrier.

24. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a Stack of articles, a receiver into which the articles are to befed successively, means including an operating element having recurrentcycles for normally exerting a suction action on the lowe-rmost closureof the stack for each cycle of said element, and means dependent on apredetermined accumulation of articles in said receiver whereby nosubstantial suction action is exerted during a given cycle of saidelement.

25. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor a stack of articles, a receiver into which the articles are to befed successively, a suction cup, means for reciprocating the cup to andfrom the stack, means for normally setting up communication between saidcup and a source of vacuum upon the withdrawing stroke of the cup, andmeans dependent on the extent of accumulation of articles in saidreceiver for rendering said last named means inoperative.

In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazine fora stack of articles, a receiver into which the articles are to be fedsuccessively, a suction cup, means for reciprocating the cup to and fromthe stack, valve means for controlling communication between the cup anda Source of vacuum, yieldable means tending to operate said valve toopen communicatlon between the source and cup on the withdrawing strokeof the cup, and means for preventing such movement of the valve upon apredetermined accumulation of articles in the receiver.

27. In an apparatus for feeding articles,

and in combination, a magazine for a stack of articles, a feed chuteinto which the articles are to be fed successively, a suction cup, meansfor reciprocating the cup to and from the stack, a sliding valve forcontrolling communication between the cup and a source of vacuum,yieldable means tending to move said valve into a position to opencommunication between the source and cup on the withdrawing stroke ofthe cup, and a detector extension on the valve arranged to extend acrossthe passage of the chute when the valve is in such communicatingposition, whereby. the valve is prevented from taking such position whenthe chute is filled with accumulated articles -up to a point oppositesaid extension.

28. In an apparatus for feeding articles, and in combination, a magazinefor astack of articles, a reciprocating carrier, a suction cup mountedon said carrier, means for moving the carrier, a suction pump includinga cylinder secured to the carrier, and a piston, the carrier having atransverse bore forming a valve chamber, there being alining conduitsconnecting said chamber with the cylinder and cup respectively, thecarrier having a relief conduit connecting said chamber withlatmosphere, a cylindrical valve element slidable endwise in said valvechamber and having a circumferential groove for connecting said aliningconduits when the valve is in one position and having an axial groovefor connecting the cup with atmosphere through one of said conduits andsaid relief conduit when the valve is in another position, a cam ridingelement on said valve, a. yieldably mounted, spring-pressed cam forengaging said element on the adlvance stroke of the carrier and tendingto move the valve into the first of said positions, means for moving thevalve into the other of said positions on the withdrawing stroke of thecarrier, and means vfor prevent,

ing the movementofthe Valve into the first the carrier, and a piston,valve means for of said positions under predetermined consetting upcommunication between the cup 10 ditions. and the cylinder during partof cach cycle 2S). In an apparatus for feeding articles, of saidcarrier, and a loaded check valve in and in combination, a magazine fora stack said pump for the outlet of contained air.

of articles, a, suction cup, a reciprocating In testimony whereof, Ihave hereunto set cai-rior on which said cup is mounted, a sucmy hand.

tion pump including a. cylinder mounted on WILLIAM V. DERBY.

